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‘Dream Week’ encourages community strength through cooperation

Pennsylvania College of Technology students and employees are invited to participate in a series of virtual events and community outreach to mark Dream Week, the annual observance that honors the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King through the national celebration of his Jan. 18 birthday.

“The theme for this year’s Dream Week is ‘Better Together,’ focusing on how we can support one another during these trying times,” said Sammie L. Davis, Penn College’s coordinator of diversity and student engagement. “In addition to the events, we are encouraging folks to give back by making donations at local nonprofits during the week. The pandemic has really highlighted the need that already existed in Williamsport, so what better time to give back than during Dream Week!”

Electronics & Computer Engineering Technology Engineering Technologies Faculty & Staff

Memorial service set for retired ‘Master Teacher’

Services will be Saturday evening for Victor A. Michael Sr., an award-winning former member of Penn College’s electronics faculty, who died Jan. 10, 2021, at the age of 86. Michael, who retired as an associate professor during the 1996-97 academic year, was an inaugural recipient of the college’s Excellence in Teaching Award (1982) and was honored with the Master Teacher Award – the institution’s most prestigious faculty accolade – in 1991. He also was a member and past president of the Penn College Education Association, which represents all full-time faculty, librarians and counselors. An obituary was published in Wednesday’s Williamsport Sun-Gazette.

Faculty & Staff

Penn College welcomes new employee

PCToday continues its regular feature – welcoming new full-time and regular part-time Pennsylvania College of Technology employees, as reported by the Human Resources Office.

Faculty & Staff General Information

David M. Heiney, college’s interim president in early ’80s, dies

Heiney (left) reunites with Russell C. Mauch, dean for community and continuing education from 1978-84, and his wife, Beverly, during the college's 2014 centennial celebration. — Heiney (left) reunites with Russell C. Mauch, dean for community and continuing education from 1978-84, and his wife, Beverly, during the college’s 2014 centennial celebration.

David M. Heiney, 80, of Hughesville, interim president of Williamsport Area Community College from 1980-81, died Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, at UPMC Susquehanna in Williamsport.

Services will be private and at the convenience of the family. A full obituary, detailing his professional accomplishments and community involvement, is available on the website of the McCarty-Thomas Funeral Home in Hughesville.

Faculty & Staff General Information Students

Capturing the calm before the storm

In the days and nights before more than 2 feet of snow prevented many employees (yes, even photographers!) from setting foot on campus, a few signs of the season were captured by Penn College’s talented eyes on the ground. To cap a 2020 full of hindrance and hardship – and, thanks to campuswide cooperation, one of ultimate perseverance – PCToday presents a few reminders that even the worst years end in hopefulness for better times.

College Relations Faculty & Staff General Information Students

Fish Real Estate Leadership Challenge Course creates educational, recreational opportunities

Concept drawings tentatively demonstrate what portions of the Fish Real Estate Leadership Challenge Course at Penn College may look like upon completion.

The Fish Real Estate Leadership Challenge Course, currently under development at Pennsylvania College of Technology, will provide the campus community and beyond with stimulating outdoor activities to foster leadership and team-building skills.

Funded by a generous gift from Brent and Daria Fish – longtime supporters of the Penn College Foundation and its annual fundraising activities like the Golf Classic and Dinner and Auction – the challenge course will eventually connect the college campus to the Greater Williamsport area via the Susquehanna Greenway extension project.

Faculty & Staff

Thoughtful college employees warmly welcomed at YWCA

Gathering bags and boxes of cold-weather apparel for delivery Tuesday are (from left) Sue A. Mahaffey, coordinator of enrollment management operations; Barbara J. Stevens, secretary to college transitions and first-year initiatives; Joette M. Siertle, academic skills specialist: early alert tech and data systems; and Kelly S. Watkins, financial aid specialist, federal programs.

Penn College’s Enrollment Management team collected bagsful of “warm items” this season, brightening this suddenly wintry season for appreciative recipients at the YWCA Northcentral Pennsylvania.

“We were honored today to receive the donated cold-weather items from Pennsylvania College of Technology,” said Dawn Linn, the regional nonprofit’s chief executive officer. “Individuals coming to the YW’s shelters, homeless or escaping abuse, are often coming with just the clothes on their backs. Clothing donations will allow staff to provide them the items they need immediately.”

Alumni Engineering Technologies Faculty & Staff Industrial Design Students

Alum’s newsletter article retraces ‘young designer’s journey’

Hadden designed the 3D-printed memento gifted at the Fall 2018 dedication of The Dr. Welch Workshop: A Makerspace at Penn College – just one of the ways in which she's left her mark. — Hadden designed the 3D-printed memento gifted at the Fall 2018 dedication of The Dr. Welch Workshop: A Makerspace at Penn College – just one of the ways in which she’s left her mark.

An article by 2019 alumna Nina M. Hadden, recounting the challenging and rewarding opportunities that her Penn College education has brought about, has been published by the Industrial Designers Society of America. “This wonderfully creative major encompasses so many different outlets and allows you to explore just about any field you could think of,” she wrote of her four-year degree. “Though there are what could be considered ‘traditional’ jobs, I have learned that there are actually many careers that an industrial design major can go into.” Hadden’s piece fittingly mentions the quality of the college’s faculty, as Thomas E. Ask, professor of industrial design – adviser to the Society of Inventors and Mad Scientists – was elected in 2019 as IDSA’s Northeast District Educator. In that capacity, he represents all industrial design programs at colleges and universities within the region.

Alumni Automotive Engineering Technologies Events Faculty & Staff Students

Graduating automotive major commissioned as Army officer

Ana Coste pins gold bars onto the uniform of her son, Andrew Placencia, of Reading, during his commissioning as an Army second lieutenant in a Dec. 12 ceremony at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

A Pennsylvania College of Technology senior was commissioned as an Army second lieutenant in an outdoor ceremony held Saturday morning at the college.

Joined in person on the Bush Campus Center patio by family members and online by livestreaming well-wishers, Andrew Placencia, of Reading – a Bald Eagle Battalion ROTC cadet earning a degree in automotive technology management – will be branched into the Army Ordnance Corps.

Faculty & Staff Students

Board OKs ERP choice, accepts financial audit for Fiscal 2020

The Pennsylvania College of Technology Board of Directors on Thursday approved the selection of a Florida company to provide ERP (enterprise resource planning) software/systems to the college and accepted the audited financial statements for the college for the 2019-20 fiscal year.

The college will engage with Boca Raton-based Anthology for the implementation of CampusNexus, a comprehensive package of administrative software tools and systems to support business operations and engage with students. Anthology was created earlier this year after the merger of three companies: Campus Management, Campus Labs and iModules.

President Davie Jane Gilmour said the new ERP will replace a collection of systems, some of which are more than 30 years old.

Engineering Technologies Faculty & Staff Information Technology Students

Retired Penn College professor dedicates IT book to students

A recently retired Pennsylvania College of Technology faculty member is sharing her information technology expertise and appreciation for former students through her latest book.

Lisa Bock, who retired in May as an associate professor of computer information technology, has written “Identity Management With Biometrics,” a 368-page book that describes how to select the right biometric system and details the steps for implementing identity management and authentication.

Faculty & Staff Students

Habitat home dedication video acknowledges college’s help

Matheau A. Davenport, an engineering design technology major (and an engineering CAD technology alumnus) leaves a Wildcat calling card.

The Clay County (Florida) Habitat for Humanity chapter recently celebrated a virtual dedication for its newest homeowner, who moved with her 3-year-old son into a house on which Penn College students and staff worked over an “alternative spring break” in March. “At this site specifically, the students installed all the windows and did some other work at the property,” said Sammie L. Davis, coordinator of diversity and student engagement, in sharing the chapter’s celebratory news on YouTube. “The story of the family moving in is super touching. You will see some familiar faces in the video, too, and they mention Penn College at the end for contributing.” Davis was joined on the trip (taken before COVID-19 precautions affected the spring semester) by Residence Life’s Cathy E. Gamez, coordinator for Dauphin Hall, and 16 student volunteers.

Brewing & Fermentation Science Business, Arts & Sciences Faculty & Staff Students

Yuengling scholarship includes Penn College brewing program

With the objective of encouraging and supporting women in the brewing industry, the Pink Boots Society and D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. have partnered to fund a scholarship and included Pennsylvania College of Technology’s brewing and fermentation science program in the initiative.

The Diversity in Brewing Scholarship provides exceptional women of color in the brewing industry up to $10,000 in scholarship funds to further their brewing education. Students can apply for the scholarship through six brewing programs, including Penn College’s one-year certificate program. Two scholarships are available for Fall 2021; award amounts vary per program, with $9,250 designated for a Penn College scholarship applicant.

Aviation Engineering Technologies Faculty & Staff

Friday funeral scheduled for aviation faculty retiree

Robert M. Werkmeister Sr., who retired as an assistant professor of aviation at Penn College, died Dec. 3 at the age of 83. Werkmeister’s 1959 graduation from the aviation program at Williamsport Technical Institute (the institution’s earliest predecessor) began decades of service to the industry, including work as a mechanic, inspector and a corporate pilot.

He taught at the Lumley Aviation Center for more than 20 years, retiring during the 2013-14 academic year.

A full obituary, including details about Friday’s visitation and funeral, was published in Saturday’s editions of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette.

Faculty & Staff

Penn College welcomes new employees

PCToday continues its regular feature – welcoming new full-time and regular part-time Pennsylvania College of Technology employees, as reported by the Human Resources Office.

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